Andreas Wank has announced his retirement from ski jumping ©Getty Images

Olympic gold medallist Andreas Wank of Germany has announced his retirement from ski jumping at the age of 31.

Wank, a member of the German squad which claimed the gold medal in the team large hill event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, confirmed his retirement in a post on Instagram.

"The day has come to end my sporting career," he wrote.

"I didn't achieve everything that I wanted as a ski jumper, but I experienced some moments that were never taken for granted."

Wank, who also won team silver at Vancouver 2010, said he hoped to remain in the sport as a coach for the German Ski Association.






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Hi everyone, the day has come to end my sporting career. I have completed an apprenticeship in the DSV-Academie next to my active career and will now take the opportunity to strengthen the coaching team around our new national coach and my long-time exercise coach Stefan Horngacher. I was able to have many experiences as a ski jumper – both good and less good. I would now like to pass them on and take on the challenge of supporting our athletes in the best way and giving everything for the team. It was always my goal to succeed and win medals. And that will remain the case, except that I now pursue the wish as a coach. This step was difficult for me because I wanted to participate on the next Olympic Winter Games. Nevertheless, the thought of the cool team, with all the athletes and coaches, came to me that I can get involved there and want to take on the new challenge. I always had my family behind me for many years, the ski federation (@dsv_nordisch), so many great trainers, the Bundeswehr (@spitzensport_bundeswehr ) and sponsors, who also became a kind of family for me and always supported me (@viessmann_sport @fischernordic @fluege.de @kampa_haus ), also when things went stony. I am very thankful for getting the opportunity by the Bundeswehr, to start this career as a couch. I would like to thank everyone for that. But above all you who supported me at the hills cheered and gave mental upswing. I didn't achieve everything that I wanted as a ski jumper, but I experienced some moments that were never taken for granted. I thought this would be the right moment for this picture with my most important successes and memories. I will always think of the Olympic gold and silver, silver at the World Championships and the World Ski Flying Championships, the Summer Grand Prix overall victory, double gold at the Junior World Championships, and the feeling of flying. I will make my last jump on the 27th of July in Hinterzarten next to the SGP (#hiza2019) and I would be happy if you come to cheer on our athletes and when I say goodbye in this way. Sincerly yours Andi

A post shared by Andreas Wank (@andreaswank_official) on

"I was able to have many experiences as a ski jumper – both good and less good," he added. 

"I would now like to pass them on and take on the challenge of supporting our athletes in the best way and giving everything for the team. 

"It was always my goal to succeed and win medals. 

"And that will remain the case, except that I now pursue the wish as a coach."

Wank enjoyed a successful career in the sport as he earned two World Championships silver medals in the team event.

He made 189 starts on the International Ski Federation (FIS) World Cup circuit, recording a best result of second in Sapporo in 2010.

According to the FIS, Wank will make his last competitive appearance at the FIS Grand Prix in Hinterzarten on July 27.